1. Introduction & Dataset Description

This project investigates how social capital influences household coping strategies (CSI) and livelihood coping strategies (LCSI) in Zimbabwe within the Takunda program over a year in February and Augest 2024 (Round 3 and Round 4). The dataset includes household-level indicators collected through structured surveys on food security, coping strategies, and social capital.

Study details: Sample size: Round 3 (n = 483), Round 4 (n = 280) Study population: Households in food-insecure regions of Zimbabwe Data collection: Structured in-person surveys

Key variables include: - Social Capital Index (SCI): Measures bonding and bridging social capital based on assistance within and outside the community. - Coping Strategy Index (CSI): Measures short-term food insecurity coping mechanisms. - Livelihood Coping Strategy Index (LCSI): Captures long-term financial and livelihood-related coping strategies.

2. Description of Planned Interactive HTML Widgets

Widget 1: Social Capital vs. Coping Strategies

  • X-axis: Social Capital Index (0–100)
  • Y-axis: CSI and LCSI (separate boxplots)
  • Color: Round 3 vs. Round 4
  • Interactivity:
    • Hover tooltips displaying SCI, CSI/LCSI, and Round
    • Legend toggles to isolate Round 3 or Round 4
    • Zooming and panning enabled for deeper exploration

Key Takeaways: - Households with higher SCI had slightly lower CSI. - This trend appeared in both rounds, with Round 4 showing lower CSI overall, suggesting increased food security over time.

Widget 2: Household Coping Strategies Distribution

  • X-axis: Coping Strategy Type (CSI and LCSI)
  • Y-axis: Index Score (0–100)
  • Color: Round 3 vs. Round 4
  • Interactivity:
    • Hover tooltips show round, strategy type, and score

Key Takeaways: - CSI and LCSI scores were lower in Round 4, may indicating reduced coping behavior.

  • LCSI dropped more noticeably, suggesting greater improvement in long-term resilience.

Load Libraries

library(ggplot2)
library(plotly)
library(dplyr)
library(DT)
library(tidyr)

Load Data

Widget 1: Social Capital vs. Coping Strategies

Scatter plot conclusion:

  • There is a slight negative correlation between Social Capital Index (SCI) and CSI, meaning that households with higher social capital tend to use fewer coping strategies.
  • Comparison Between Rounds: The trend is consistent across Round 3 and Round 4, but CSI scores appear slightly lower in Round 4, further reinforcing the idea that households relied less on food-related coping strategies over time.
  • This supports the hypothesis that social capital plays a role in reducing the need for negative coping strategies, as stronger social networks may provide households with alternative means to deal with food insecurity.

Widget 2: Household Coping Strategies Distribution

BoxPlot Inclusion:

  • Households in Round 4 had lower CSI scores compared to Round 3, indicating reduced reliance on short-term food-related coping strategies (e.g., reducing portion sizes, skipping meals).
  • There is a significant decrease in LCSI in Round 4, suggesting households relied less on extreme financial and asset-based coping mechanisms like selling assets or borrowing food on credit.
  • This trend suggests households became more food secure over time, possibly due to improved access to resources and support networks. ### Overall Conclusion
  • Households in Round 4 demonstrated improved food security, as indicated by lower CSI and LCSI scores.
  • Higher Social Capital was associated with reduced reliance on coping strategies, reinforcing its importance in food security resilience.
  • The Takunda program’s interventions may have contributed to strengthening social capital, ultimately helping to reduce household vulnerability to food insecurity.